Electric lamp



(No Model.) I

O. J. VAN DEPOELIL.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

No. 259,062. Patented June 6, 1882.

1547/36 ni'o'r N. PETERS. FhoImLiUlugrapher. Washington. nc,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,062, dated June 6,1882.

Application filed February 11, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OHARLEs J. VAN DE- POELE,of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Electric Lamps; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

The nature of my invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in electric lamps wherein thecurrent of electricityemployed is of such high potential (high tension) that the electricspark will pass without bringing the opposite terminals into contact,which can remain at all times a certain distance apart.

' It will he noticed thatmy improved lamp is neither an arc lamp nor anincandescent one. Figure l. is a vertical central section. Fig. 2 isacross-section on the line 3 y in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section onthe line as a: in Fig. 1.

1n the accompanying drawings, 0 represents a non-conducting mediumplaced between the two terminals A A. This medium is composed of somenon conducting substance-such as asbestus fiber, clay, plaster, or othernon-conductin g substance-e-being covered with a paste made of water andlampblaek, or provided with small particles of carbon pressed into thesurface, and so arranged that such particles shall not be in continuouscontact with each other, but so that an elec-.

tric current-such as is used in are or incandescent lamps-will not pass,and will have no efiect on such medium.

In order to operate said medium, a current of very high potential ortension is employed, sufficient to pass without making actual electricalcontact between the two terminals when said terminals are placed, say,one-sixteenth of an inch apart. The edges of this medium are embraced bythe platinum platesAA, bent over such edges, and the platinum wires BB,so as to form perfect contacts. The wires B B are bent around the endsof the medium to convey the current thereto.

O U are glass prolongations projectingfrom plug D, through which thewires B B are carried. This plugsnugly fits into the inverted neck ofthe glass bulb E, and an orifice or opening, F, through said plug isintended to afford means for allowing the necessary vacuum to be createdin the bulb, or to allow the introduction of such gases as may beexpedient to prevent combustion.

After the parts are constructed and connected with the plug D said plugis inserted into the neck of the bulb and secured therein, so as to forman air-tight joint. Now, if the plug is properly secured to avacuum-pump, all the air in the bulb may be removed, so far as ispracticable. When this has been done the bulb is filled with carbonic orother gas which will not readily attack the carbon particles of themedium when brought to a certain heat. Now, the current is allowed topass between the terminals A A, over the medium 0, over which thecurrent passes in irregular streams, jumping from one particle of carbonto another. To render the flow of the current steady and to make thelight emitted clear and brilliant, a partial vacuum must be againcreated in the bulb until the extreme whiteness of the spark and theirregular waves have become softer and steady, presenting a beautifulglow of light, when the end of the orifice or hole F through the plug isfinally closed in any of the known ways.

I am aware of the United States Patent No.

1-9et-,563, Qf 1877 and the English Patent No.

4,774 of 1874, andI do not therefore broadly claim an electric lampwherein a current of high tension is used to jump from point to point ofan insulated holding device to pro duce the light.

What I claim is .1. In an electric lamp,the combination, with aconfining-globe, a holding device, and conducting-wires, of anon-conducting medium connected with the wires, and provided upon itssurface with small particles of finely-divided conducting medium securedclose together, but not in electrical contact, substan tially asdescribed.

2. In an electric lamp, and in combination with the terminals A A,conductors BB, a com fining-globe, and a suitable support, thenonconducting medium 0, provided with small air has been abstracted andreplaced by some 10 particles of carbon not in electrical contact,non-supporting gas, and suitable electrical substantially as described.connections leading from the mediums within 3. In an electriclamp, thecombination, with the globe, substantially as described. a non-conductinmedium provided superficially with smal i particles of finely-dividedCHARLES VAN DEPOELE' conducting material not in electrical contact,Witnesses: of a glass globe iuclosing said conducting and H. S. SPRAGUE,non-conducting mediums, and from which the I E. SCULLY.

